Chapter 33: Worth Her Time
- DEX -
After setting up a few meetings with old contacts for next week, I do some quick research on projects that I might be able to give Raya while she is recovering. There is one in particular that I think will be perfect.
An old college friend, Liz Greer, has been working on rebuilding a cosmetics company after her last venture with a partner fell apart. I’ve seen her posting about it on social media for some time now, and the company looks really promising. But she seems to be taking her time and doing things slow. There aren’t any advertising campaigns for it yet.
It’s unlikely that Liz can afford to hire a big company like Möbius to help with her content strategy and marketing at this time, but I also know that this idea of hers has the potential to be hugely successful. She’s made a point of stressing that this time around, she’s focusing exclusively on fresh, simple, and ethically sourced ingredients without all the excess waste of flashy packaging.
If Mobius can help Liz launch her brand, which she’s currently calling Verdure, it has the potential to be a really big client for us in the long run. And based on the ideas I saw in Raya’s notebook for Moxie coffee, I think this could be the perfect thing for her to work on.
Since Liz doesn’t have a budget like most of our clients, it’s not something we can devote the entire creative team’s time to like we would any other project. But Raya will have access to everything in the Mobius arsenal, and she’ll have me supervising her. It could be perfect. It’s at least more worth her time as an intern than getting people coffee or sitting outside my office waiting for the phone to ring.
After packing up my laptop, I send a text to Raya: ’Getting ready to head your way.’ When I walk by Lawson’s office, it’s empty. He still hasn’t returned, and I can’t help but think that he’s got something up his sleeve that I’m not expecting.
Whatever it is, based on his behavior this morning and the way he really let the gloves come off, I have a feeling he’s not just going to actively resist my father’s wish for me to take over—he’s going to fight it hard. Hopefully I’m wrong, because he’ll just end up making a fool of himself. Lawson doesn’t need that kind of attention, and Mobius doesn’t need that kind of attention either.
"Mr., Mr. Dex..." a short guy with suspenders and a mustache intercepts me on my way out of the building. "I mean Mr. Alexander, hello. I don’t know if you remember me."
He offers his hand, and I shift the laptop and my bag so I can shake it. "Of course I remember you. Jay, right?"
"Yes," he smiles, but his eyes keep darting away like he’s nervous or agitated.
From what I recall, this is just part of Jay’s personality. And Jay is hilarious. I’ve never talked to him personally, but overhearing office conversations that he’s been involved in has been entertaining. He’s been with the company for quite some time.
"You can call me Dex," I tell him.
"Oh thank you, Mr. Dex. A few of us are wondering how Auraya is doing. The accident looked really bad, and Mr. Lawson didn’t tell us anything. Obviously if we signed a card, she’s alive but..."
"Oh, of course. I’m sorry. Auraya had surgery, and she is recovering. We may not see her back in the office for a few weeks."
Laurel comes to stand next to him, arms crossed over her chest. "What a relief," she sighs. "I hope she knows that her position will be waiting for her. Will you need a new assistant in the meantime, Dex?"
"No, I don’t think so. Thank you," I smile politely. "But I will let you know if I do."
Both Jay and Laurel stand there staring at me, and I realize that this is what being back at the company means, and I’m going to have to get used to it. Everyone is waiting for news, waiting for direction, waiting to see my reaction to things in order to know how to feel about not only the company’s future but also the day-to-day work environment. A lot has happened this week—a lot of change and drama.
"Everyone has done remarkably well this week considering all that has changed in a short period of time. Laurel, would you mind coordinating a therapist to be available for the employees if anyone would like to talk about the accident yesterday? I’m not sure what everyone witnessed, but I want them to know that there is support here for them if they need it."
I pat Jay on the arm and turn to leave.
"Of course," Laurel calls after me in her eager-to-please voice. "I will get right on that, Dex. Is there anything else?"
"There will be a meeting Monday to go over the current state of projects and what our focus will be moving forward. We’ll talk about the details then," I give her an appreciative nod. "Everything is good. No worries."
When I’m finally out the doors, the relief is immediate. I’ll get used to being cooped up all day—I know I will. At least I’m cooped up here and not in a more traditional, buttoned-up office with cubicles and monotonous, mundane walls and decor. The gaming rooms at Mobius were originally my idea, and I love that my father has continued to encourage their use. For people like me who hate offices but still have a trove of ideas to share, the more laid-back atmosphere is excellent.
My motorcycle is supposed to arrive next week, and when I can finally take a long ride and escape the traffic of the city and all the crowds, I’ll feel much better. When I’m riding, I can really think. Problems get stripped away, and it’s like being baptized by the wind—by the wild and free feeling of being fast enough that nothing—not mom’s death, not dad’s cancer, not Lawson’s jealousy, not Auraya’s mesmerizing presence—nothing can catch me.
